Download THE FALL OF ROME

UNIT OVERVIEW:
THE FALL OF ROME
STANDARDS:
1. Knowledge:
 Students will analyze and understand the geography, economy, politics, religion, social structures and
technological advances of Rome.
2. Skills:
 Students will learn to label a map for effective review.
 Students will use critical reading skills to pull information from high quality text.
ESSENTIAL UNIT QUESTION:
What are the legacies of Rome and what impact have they made on the modern world?
SUMMARY:
Ancient Rome was a powerful and important civilization that ruled much of Europe for nearly 1000 years.
The culture of Ancient Rome was spread throughout Europe during its rule. As a result, Rome's culture still has an
impact in the Western world today. The basis for much of western culture comes from Ancient Rome, especially in
areas such as government, engineering, architecture, language, and literature.
Rome first grew into power as a Republic. This meant that Rome's leaders, such as senators, were elected
officials that served for a limited amount of time, not kings who were born into leadership and ruled for life. They
had a complex government with written laws, a constitution, and a balance of powers. These concepts became very
important in forming future democratic governments, like the United States. The Republic would rule Rome for
hundreds of years from around 509 BC to 45 BC.
In 45 BC Julius Caesar took over the Roman Republic and made himself the supreme dictator. This was the
end of the republic. A few years later, in 27 BC, Caesar Augustus became the first Roman Emperor and this was the
start of the Roman Empire. Much of the lower level government stayed the same, but now the Emperor had
supreme power.
As the Roman Empire grew it became more and more difficult to manage from the city of Rome.
Eventually the Roman leaders decided to split Rome into two empires. One was the Western Roman Empire and
was ruled out of the city of Rome. The other was the Eastern Roman Empire and was ruled out of Constantinople
(today's Istanbul in Turkey). The Eastern Roman Empire would become known as Byzantium or the Byzantine
Empire.
The fall of Rome generally refers to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It fell in 476 AD. The Eastern
Roman Empire, or the Byzantine Empire, would rule parts of Eastern Europe for another 1000 years.
VOCABULARY:
Innovation
Classical
Influence
Republic
Citizens
Empire
Aqueducts
Corruption
West Roman Empire
Byzantine Empire
Diocletian
Justinian
Constantine
Theodora
Augustus
Romulus and Remus